The Patriots Are Road Warriors and Other Things We Learned in NFL Week 10

New England tied a record for road wins, and the 49ers won't be historically bad. Here are the most interesting things we learned in Week 10 of the 2017 NFL season.

The Patriots Crushed the Broncos in Denver

Tom Brady threw for 266 yards and three touchdowns and the New England Patriots crushed the mistake-prone Denver Broncos, 41-16, on Sunday night. New England (7-2) equaled its own AFC record with a 12th consecutive road win.

The Patriots special teams helped deliver the win, recovering a muffed punt return, blocking a Broncos punt and springing Dion Lewis for a 103-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. New England led 27-9 at halftime and was never seriously challenged in the game.

Denver (3-6) lost its fifth consecutive game. Receiver Emmanuel Sanders was the Broncos biggest star, catching six passes for 137 yards. Denver quarterback Brock Osweiler finished 18 of 33 passing for 221 yards with a touchdown and an interception.

The Falcons Sacked the Cowboys

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The Falcons sacked Dak Prescott eight times, including six by Adrian Clayborn, and Atlanta overwhelmed the Dallas Cowboys, 27-7, on Sunday. Matt Ryan threw for 215 yards and two touchdowns for the Falcons.

Dallas (5-4) looked lost offensively without suspended running back Ezekiel Elliott and injured left tackle Tyron Smith in the lineup. Trailing 10-7 at the half and 17-7 early in the third quarter, the Cowboys were forced to come from behind and could not do it.

Falcons running back Devonta Freeman left the game early with a concussion, but his replacement, Tevin Coleman, carried 20 times for 83 yards and a touchdown for Atlanta (5-4).

Dallas linebacker Sean Lee left the game early with a hamstring injury.

The Saints, Vikings & Rams All Rolled to Wins

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With the Cowboys and Falcons scuffling -- and the Packers without Aaron Rodgers -- the NFC is wide open. Conference-leading Philadelphia (8-1) was idle on Sunday, but the other NFC division leaders each won easily.

Mark Ingram ran for 131 yards and three touchdowns and the New Orleans Saints rolled over the Buffalo Bills, 47-10, on Sunday. Running back Alvin Kamara added 106 yards and a score for New Orleans (7-2), which stayed atop the NFC South with the blowout win.

Case Keenum threw for 304 yards and four touchdowns, and the Minnesota Vikings beat the Washington Redskins, 38-30, on Sunday. Keenum threw two interceptions, but he was good enough to lead Minnesota (7-2) to its fifth consecutive win. Adam Thielen caught eight passes for 166 yards and a touchdown for the Vikings.

Jared Goff threw for 355 yards and three touchdowns and the Los Angeles Rams clobbered the Houston Texans, 33-7, on Sunday. Robert Woods caught eight passes for 171 yards and two scores for Los Angeles (7-2), which stayed ahead of Seattle in the NFC West race. Houston (3-6) continued to slide in the AFC South.

There are still seven games left to play, but it would be surprising if all of these teams didn't factor into the NFC playoff picture come January.

Big Ben Rallied the Steelers Past the Colts

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Chris Boswell kicked a 33-yard field goal as time expired, and the Pittsburgh Steelers rallied to beat the Indianapolis Colts, 20-17, on Sunday. Pittsburgh (7-2) scored 17 straight points in the second half on the way to their fourth consecutive win.

Steelers' quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was instrumental in the comeback. He finished 19 of 31 passing for 236 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. His 32-yard completion to Antonio Brown with 35 seconds to play set up Boswell's game-wining kick.

Indianapolis (3-7) led 17-3 after Jacoby Brissett threw a 61-yard touchdown pass to Chester Rogers on the fourth play of the second half. The Colts could not hold the lead, though.

Brissett was 14 of 24 passing for 222 yards, with two long touchdowns and one costly interception.

Roethlisberger hit JuJu Smith-Schuster on a 7-yard touchdown pass midway through the third quarter. The Pittsburgh wide receiver said after the game that he and Le'Veon Bell's ensuing touchdown celebration was meant to re-enact last week's incident when Bengals wideout A.J. Green attacked Jags defensive back Jalen Ramsey on the field.

The Titans Are Off to Their Best Start Since 2008

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Marcus Mariota threw a 7-yard touchdown pass to DeMarco Murray with 36 seconds to play, and the Tennessee Titans beat the Cincinnati Bengals, 24-20, on Sunday. Tennessee (6-3) won its fourth consecutive game, giving the team its best start since 2008 -- the season of their last playoff berth.

Mariota finished with 264 yards passing for the Titans. Murray ran for 42 yards and two additional touchdowns.

Andy Dalton threw for 265 yards and two touchdowns for Cincinnati (3-6). He fumbled twice. A.J. Green caught five passes for 115 yards and a score that put his team up three points with 5:03 left, but the Bengals could not hold the lead.

The 49ers Won't Go 0-16

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C.J. Beathard passed for 288 yards and two touchdowns, and he ran for another score, as the San Francisco 49ers beat the New York Giants, 31-21, on Sunday for their first victory of the season. San Francisco (1-9) hadn't even had a lead in a game in a month, but the Niners were able to get ahead by halftime and hold on for the win.

Beathard threw an 83-yard touchdown pass to Marquise Goodwin. The wide receiver said he played the game despite learning his baby boy died Sunday morning because of complications during his wife Morgan's pregnancy.

Bethard's 47-yard strike to Garrett Celek later in the second quarter put his team up for good.

Eli Manning threw for 273 yards and two touchdowns for New York (1-8). He was sacked three times. The Giants looked like a team ready to rid themselves of embattled head coach Ben McAdoo. It won't matter; they'll still stink.